The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) has named three successful applicants in the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Applications Project (ONAP). The winning firms will receive $745,000 collectively for research that will be completed within three years.

Frontier Electronic Systems Corp. and XploSafe LLC, both of Stillwater; and Non-Metallic Sciences Inc. of Chouteau were chosen from a field of 19 applicants by independent peer reviewers.

Nanotechnology is the science and manipulation of materials at the molecular level or from the 1-100 nanometer range. The field of study promises improved healthcare, safer more efficient transportation, increased sustainability, a cleaner environment and smaller, more powerful technology.

Winning projects require an improved likelihood for commercial success and collaboration with a for-profit Oklahoma company. OCAST works closely with the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, State Regents for Higher Education, CareerTech, colleges and universities to make the ONAP program available statewide.

Winning projects include:

Stillwater

Frontier Electronics Systems Corp. (FES) – Lloyd Salsman, “Development of Nano Batteries for Medical Applications.” Stillwater-based FES, the University of Tulsa and VADovations will collaborate on a three-year project to develop and commercialize a high performance lithium battery. Using nanotechnology fabrication processes developed at TU, the group will create a battery to run VADovation’s implantable blood pump. The proposal combines two unique Oklahoma enterprises to advance an Oklahoma-originated technology in the large and growing healthcare power delivery market. FES will research materials and processes for producing electrodes to be used in the design. Total award: $500,000 for three years

XploSafe LLC – Allen Apblett, “Sorbents for Removal of Radionuclides from Water.” The project research is designed to determine the technical feasibility and pursue commercialization of the use of molybdenum oxides for removal of radionuclides in water. The resulting sorbents will have higher capacities for sorption of radionuclides and be more radiation and heat resistant than materials currently available on the market. The technology will create positions for chemical engineers, research technicians, chemists and materials scientist. Total award: $200,000 for two years

Chouteau

Non-Metallic Sciences Inc. – Charles Woodson, “Nano Enhanced BMI Resins for an Engineering Polymer.” The goal of this project is to establish a manufacturing plant in Oklahoma making nano enhanced engineering plastics. The resins would be sold to reaction injection molders, resin transfer molders, tooling manufacturers, filament winders and compression molders. Their first product would target aerospace, military, chemical process, automotive engine components and down hole drilling processes. Spirit Aerospace Systems will be both a customer and consultant on the project. This research will respond to a U.S. Air Force request for a new resin that will withstand high temperatures without becoming brittle. Total award: $45,000 for one year